The end of another successful Easter Scavenger Hunt As we usher in the month of March, our thoughts are turned towards spring and with it, the Easter season. Like so many families, holidays hold a special place in our home. However, there seems to be a different level of planning and preparation that goes into religious holidays, such as Easter and Christmas. Early on, my husband and I wanted to make sure our children understood the reasons we celebrate these holidays and w

We have been in our home more than 20 years. Yet, for a time period spanning six to eight years, our home address would come up as the location of The Genius Club . At the time, I had no idea what The Genius Club was or how it got attached to our home address. It wasn't long before I discovered the source of our updated status. Unsurprisingly, it came from our boys, who were maybe 10 and 11 years old. For months, they had been gathering the items needed to build a Tesla coil

Early on in our parenting career, my husband and I decided to make Valentine's Day more about the family and less about us, as a couple. That doesn't mean that we neglected our relationship. We just chose to celebrate our Valentine's Day the following week, once the crowds and the chaos died down a bit. We adopted a few traditions along the way to help make Valentine's Day a festive time for the whole family. I referenced one of these traditions in last weeks blog post ti

As the temperatures dipped below the freezing point when our children were young, we felt a feel a special kind of warmth inside our home as we kicked off our annual Valentine's Challenge . This challenge began with an empty Ball jar, which I placed in the center of our dining room table each February 1st. Next came the fun part, as each child selected their color from the bag of SweetTart candy hearts (other colored candies work just as well). Our sons usually went with the

With the Christmas decorations boxed up for another year, I am saying goodbye to the holidays, which brought festivities and loved ones to our home. While the house feels a little empty since our children have gone back to college, it's time for me to say hello to the New Year as the Christmas season fades into the background, along with our beloved Christmas music. While I often wish the holidays could last just a little longer, I realize that's like trying to hold back th

Christmas is a time of celebration and rejoicing. Yet, at times, the celebration and rejoicing of the holiday can take a backseat to the onslaught of wishlists and hosting obligations. From the time our children were very young, we established the tradition of the Christmas Chain for the twelve days leading up to Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve itself, we had a different set of traditions, which included serving Christmas dinner to the homeless at a local food bank. Serving t

After juggling our chaotic schedules throughout the week, we look forward to Saturdays as a way to escape from the busyness of life. Most Saturdays find us on the road, exploring anything from an antique shop to a roadside market. We’ll venture just about anywhere within a 2-3 hours radius of our home.  One of our favorite day-trip destinations is Leesburg, Va. This two hour drive weaves us through the winding backroads of three different states, while showcasing local farms

Beyond the cascade of vibrant colored leaves and the array of pumpkins on display from porches to gas stations, there is another,...

While summer will linger on for another three weeks, Labor Day marks the “unofficial” end of summer. During this holiday weekend, you may...